Die-casting apparatus.



No. 889,547. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

A. G. RAUH (is L. ULSEN.

DIE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 20, 1907.

7 SKEETSSHEET 1.

' ATTURN EY PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

A. G. RAUH & L. OLSEN.

7 SHEBTSSHEET 2 ATTORNEY PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.-

A. G. RAUH & L. OLSEN.

DIE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPL IGATION FILED APR. 20, 1907.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR6,

mom?

No. "889,547. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

A. G. RAUH dz L. OLSEN.

DIE CASTlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1907.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Livia... will,

y I v;

- 7 SHEETS-SHEET 5 PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908 A. G. RAUH & L. OLSEN. DIE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1907.

X-qq w, E71! TOR6 ml a! Y ATTOR N EY BNVEN WITNESSES:

No. 889,547. PATENTED JUNE 2 1908. A. GVRAUH & L. OLSEN.

"DIE CASTING APPARATUS. APIBLIGATION FILED APR. 29, 1901.

-: SHEETS-SHEET e.

wnmassas:

No. 889,547. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

r A. G. R'AUH dz L. OLSEN.

DIE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 20, 1907.

ST'llES glans orrron.

ALBERT G. RAUH AND LAWRENCE OLSEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN DIE (JASTiNG COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DIE-CASTING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that we, ALBERT G. RAUH and LAWRENCE OLSEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Indiana olis, in the county of Marion and State of Indians, have invent ed certain new and useful Inn rovernents in Die-Casting Apparatus, of WlllCll the follow -ing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an a paratus for molding soft or white metal, uni er pressure, into dies to obtain accurate, smooth, and true castings, as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby metal castings may he produced so as to be true to measure and -form, equal and homogeneous in connosition, and to produce such castings as wil be smooth, true, and so accurate as to measurement as not to require to be machine "finished in order to closely fit into the piece or pieces for which-they are designed.

We attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional eleva tional view of our invention of a die molding apparatus taken along the line A. B. in Fi s.

2 and 3; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional e evational view of the same taken along the line .(7. l). in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken. along theline E. F. in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the cooling bloc-k upon which the die of the apparatus rests and is taken along the line Gr. H. in Figs. 5 and "(3; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken along the line I. J. in Figs. 4, 6 and 7;Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail top view of said cooling block or table one half of which is shown in section which section is taken along the line K. L. in'Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of said cooling block showing the sliding cam-bar whereby the push-pin carrying bars are operated; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail top view of one of the casting push-pin carrying bars; Fig. 9 is a side view of the same; Fig. 10 is an end view of the same; Fig. 11 is an edge view of one of the hinge bars or clamps oi the lid of a die; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail to view of a die; Fi 13 is a similar top view showing the hinged ids thereof removed to expose the interior of said die; Fig. 14 is a Specification of Iletters Patent. Application filed April 20, 1907. Serial 1 369,306.

Patented. June 2', 1908 side view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is an inverted view of one of the hinged lids of said die; F i 16 is a sectional view oi said die taken along the line M. N. in Fig. 13; Fig.1? is a sectional view of said die taken along the line 0. P. in Fig. 13; Fig. 18 is a detail seetional view of the lid ofsaid die taken along the line It. in Fig. 15; Fig. 19 is a top view of the handle lever for operathlg the lids of said die; and sliding cam-bars; Fig. 20 is a side view of the same; Fig. 21 is a top view of the plunger agitator of the chargin o linder; Fig. 22 is a side sectional view 0 t 1e same taken alongthe line S. 'l. in Fig. 33; Fig. 23 is a detail enlarged broken sectional view of a portion of said plunger taken along the line U. V. in Fig. 21 Fig. 2-1 is-a broken off portion of the lever for operating the agitator plunger; 'Fig. 25 is a diagram view of the fluid pressure controlling valve of the charging cylinder showing the relative position of the ports oi the three-way valve corresponding tothe positions of the inlet and outlet valves of the charging cylinder when admitting metal Into the latter; Fig. 26 is a similar diagram view of the three-Way. valve corresponding to the positions of the valves of the charging cylinder when both the latter valves are closed; Fig. 27 is a similar diagram view of the three-way valve when moved into position to admit fluid under pressure into the charging cylinder and corresponding to the closed positions of the inlet and outlet" valves of the charging cylinder, at about the time the outlet valve ol said charging cylindcr is about to he opcncd Fig. 28 is a Sillfilfll' diagram view showing the three-way valve moved into almost full open position to admit fluid under pressure into the charging cylinder and showing the position of the valves of the latter and the handle when about to move the.outlet valve into position to discharge the molten metal from the charging cylinder; Fi 29 is a similar diagram view showing the three-way valve in full open position to admit lluid under pressure into the metal charging cylinder and showing the positionvot the three-wayvalvc operating lever when the outlet valve of said charging cylinder is moved open its full extent, and, Fig. 30 is a perspective view oi a casting as it appears when removed from a die and trimmer v I We shall now proceed to describe our invention and the manner otconstructing and using the same in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms, so as to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and use the same.

- The furnace whereby the metal in the crucible 1 is melted or reduced to the fluid state,

is composed of the fire-box 2 having the grates 3, the ashit 4, the'upper combustion chamber- 5 which connected to the flue way or passage 6 and the rear combustion chamber 5. The firebox lining 7 is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with a number of air holes situated at suitable distances a art and an air space is situated between t e said fire-box lining Z and the outer casing i 8 which is provided not only for the purpose of an air heating chamber i the furnace.

I furriace.

' open, the gases fire box to fuel therein, ut also for protecting the outer for heating the air collected therein before assing through the air openings in the the ox liner 7 into the romote the combustion of the the direct action of the heat of Air inlet openings 9 are formed of the casing situated ofthe furnace and the casing 8 from in the ofiset portion between the casing 8' casing 10 of the ash-pit 4. A casing 11 the bottom Wall portion 15 of the casing of the furnace to a plane level with the partition 16. A dam er opening 17 is situated between the we s 13 and permits, when from the furnace to impinge against and encircle the charging cylinder 14, and a dam er opening 18 is situated between the top en s of the Walls 13 and the rear end of the artition 16 and a damper door 19 is situate between and hingedly connected to the walls 13 at or near the top ed es thereof to be in position to close either oithe damper openings 17 or 18, so that the course of the heated gases generated in the fire-box 2 of the furnace may be directed either around the charging cylinder 14 and out through the chimne 21 or said heated gases may be entirely s ut oif from said charging cylinder by closing the damper opening 17. In order to i rapidly heat the, charging cylinder 14 the damper 21 of the chimney 21 is openedand the damper opening 18 is closed bythe damper 19 thereby permitting the heated ases to impinge against said charging cyliner 14 and to pass around the latter to and into said chimney 21.

In order to shut off the heat from the charging cylinder 14 the damper 20 of the chimney 2G is opened and thedamper 21 of the chimney 21 is closed,

next, the operator closes the damper opening 17'by the damper door 19 thereby permitting the-heated gases to pass through tne opening 18 to impinge against the top portion of the crucible 1 thence around the latter into and throu h the way 6 to and into the chimney 20. ft is evident from the foregoing that the degree of heat a plied tothe charg ng cylinder is and must e at all times under the control of the operator and is readily regulated by a proper adjustment of the damper door 19 and the chimney dampers 20 and 21 The chimney 21 is provided for'the purpose i of causing the heat created in the fire-box 2 to directly impinge against the charging cylinder 14 when an intense heat is required.

The crucible 1 which extends downwardly through the flue 6 into the combustion chamber 5, so that its bottom portion will be subjcted to the direct heat of the fire box 2 to properly melt the metal contained therein, is provided with a spout 22 which is situated to extend from its bottom end portion, so that all the metal contained in said crucible will be capable of flowing into said spout 22.- The spout 22 is provided with a flanged end portion 23 whereby this end of the spout is secured to the charging cylinder 14, see Figs. 1. and 3.

The charging cylinder 14 is providedwith a top flange portion 24 which fits closely to the top portion 25 of the furnace and is securely bolted thereto to form a close joint therewith, and the said charging cylinder 14 depends from said flange 24, so that the hottom flange portion 26 will project into and close the o ening 27 formed in the bottom wall 15. removable top cover 27 is securely bolted to the top flangeZ and a remevable bottom end cover'28 is securel or-lied to the flange 26 of said charging cyl inner 1-1 and a valve opening 29 is formed in said cover for the passage therethrough of the charge of metal collected and stored in said charging cylinder 14. The valve opening 29 is provided with the valve 30 whereby the flow of the molten metal from said charging cylinder may be controlled. The valve 3b is preferably of'cast iron and of such a length as to extend above the top surface of the hot liquid metal contained in the charging cylinder ,14 when the latter has been char ed to its full capacity, so as to avoid said lieated metal contacting with the stem c.mnccted to the top end of said plug valve 30 which, owing to the nature of the melted metal and its chemical action on the finer 4 gradesnf steel and iron, would soon corrode the steel stem 37 "connected to said plug valve. I

The under bearing face of the seat 31 is faced to form a true surface to provide a close bearing surface whichsurface is adapted to closely fit upon the top surface of a div Lepresaid radial openin s 35 vent the escape of metal in the molten state through said joint when the latter. is forced by high pressure into a die. The purpose and construction of one of a series otthe dies used in connection with this apparatus we will hereinafter describe and which will suffice to illustrate-the purpose and use of any one or all the diilerent kinds of dies used.

An interior projecting spout tip 32 is formed integral with the charging cylinder 14 and the same is provided with a valve 'openin 33 through which the molten metal from the crucible 1' is admitted into the charging cylinder 14 and into said valve openmg is fitted a plug valve 34, similar to the Va ve 30 and ol the. same material, whereby the flow of the molten metal into said charging cylinder is controlled and regulated.

' An agitator plunger 35 is of such a diameter as to loosely fit into the charging c linder 14 so as to be readily moved upwart ly and downwardly therein and said plunger is constructed of cast iron so that it may be im- Inersed at all times in the hot fluid metal without injury. The said agitator plunger 35 is of a disk form and is provided with radial openings 35 the opposing sides of which radial openings are parallel and inclined all in the same direction, to approximate a helix, so that when said plunger '35 is moved in. a downwardly direction in the cylinder 14 the fluid metal in passing through the radial openings 35F shall have a surging and whirling motion imparted to the metal. The disk formed agitator plunger 35 is preferably recessed or dished on its under side for the purpose of more readily crowding the fluid metal toward the centero f the charging cylinder in order to hold said metal to force a greater body or volume of the-metal through the ra. dial openings 35 instead of around the outer peripheral edge of said disk and between the latter and the interior surface of the charging cylinder. It will be noted/. that the natural result of this construction of a plunger is calculated to force the metal passed through.

upwardly and outwardly when on the downward. motion and vice versa. The reverse motion of the fluid metal is the result obtained when the plum gen 35 is moved in the opposite or upward direction. An opening 35 is formed in the plunger 35 which is provided to permit said plunger to clear the s out 32 in passing and thereby permit the rec operation of said plunger in the charging cylinder. An open ing .35 is also provided to permit the plug valve 30 to be passed to the valve opening 29 and to permit the said plunger 35 to be operated freely and without interruption.

The agitator plunger 35 is preferably formed integral onits stem 36 which latter is also of cast iron, and said stem extends upwardly to and into the supply pipe 42 which supplies the fluid under pressure to the yertically extending pipe 42.

charging cylinder. The top portion of said stem which is situated in the pipe 42 is provided withthe longitudinally extending grooves 36 for the purpose of creating an increased area between said steni and the'bore of said pipe 42-for the passage of the fluid under pressure therethrough into the charging cylinder 14. The said agitator plunger 35 is provided for the purpose ofsecuring the proper admixture of the various metals entering into the composition of an alloy, some of which elements vary and are different in their specific gravity and may not possess any chemical arfinity for each other and therefore those elementary metals entering into the composition which are of greater specific gravity would naturally descend and settle at the bottom of the charging cylinder and the metal element next lesser in specific gravity would settle on the top surface of the former elementary metal element of greater specificgravity, and thus the various elementary parts of the composition would tend to settle in layers or strata according to their relative specific gravities, and by the use of a suitable agitating means such as has been described, the various elements of the me-- tallic composition are thoroughly mixed. The manner of agitating the metal contained in the crucible 1 will be hereinafter described. The plug valves 30 and 34 are bored at their top, ends to receive the bottom ends of the' valve stems 37 and 38 which latter are secured therein by suitable fastening pins 37. and 38*. The valve stems 37 and 38 extend upwardly through their packing boxes 39 and 40 and are guided and steadied at their top ends in the bores of the arms of the fixed crosshead 41 which latter is secured on the The agitator stem 43 is secured at its bottom end in the bore formed longitudinally and centrallyof the top end of the stem 36 of the agitator plunger 35 and is secured therein by a'pin 43, and said stem 43 extendsu wardly in the bore of the pipe 42through t 1e packing box 44 secured on the top end of said pipe.

A hand lever 45 is pivoted at one end to a fulcrum pin 46 which projects from the side' of the coupling casting 47 and said lever is constructed with a loop 48 which is adapted to surround that portion of the stem 43 situated between the collars 49 secured on said stem, and said loop is of such a depth as to 'fit between said collars 49, so that a movement of the hand lever 45 upwardly or downwardly will move the stem .43 to raise or lower the plunger 35. to agitate the molten metal contained in the charging cylinder 14 and mix the constituents thereof. The pipe 50 extends from a source of supply of air or other fluid under pressure, and is connected to the pipe 42 by a suitable Tecoupling 5 1. A three-way valve 52 is provided ons'aid pipe 50 to regulate and control the supply of the fluid under pressure therethrough and to the cylinder 14, and the said valve is operated manually by means of the hand-lever 53. Projecting from the side of the handlever 53 are the lifting pins 5d which are situated at the side of the head portion of said lever so as to be situated under the blocks 55 which are adjustably secured on the stems 37 and 38. Coil springs 56 surround those portions of the stems 37 and 38 situated between the blocks 55 and the arms of the fixed crosshead 41 and are provided for the purpose of closing the plug valves 'and 34 except when said valves are operated to open by means of the hand-lever 53 which latter, it will be observed, performs a double function, that is to say, it cooperates with each of the plug-valves 30 and 34 to open and close each of the valve openings.29 and 32 alternately to admit and discharge the fluid metal into and from said charging cylinder; also, to cooperate with'the three-way valve the fluid under pressure to and into the charging cylinder 14 to force the metal out of the latter and also to exhaust said fluid therefrom at the proper times.

' The three-way valve 52 is provided with the ports 57 and 58 and the outlet or exhaust port 59 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. a

The molding die into which the molten metal is forced to be formed or molded into the desired shape and true size or dimension,

' produced.

is composed ofa baseportion 60 which is machined or planed on said base surface to form a true bearing face to secure a true surface bearing of said die n on the face or top surface ofthe cooling b ock 61. The top open portion of the die is closed by the front and rear covers '62 and 63, each of which covers a one half portion of said die and meet at the center of the latter to abut at their edges to form a close joint. The said covers 62 and63 are truly planed or 'otherwise machined to closely lit the true bearing surface of the open top ofthebody of the die. The body of the die'is provided with the duplicate molds or forms 64, the open ends of which are closed by the half cylinders or end closures 65 formed integral on the under sides ofsaid lids 62 and 63, and cores 66 are also formed on the under sides of the lids 62 and 63 and are situated between the end closures 65 to be concentric therewith and with tl eir molds 64, so that by means of' such a die a pair of castings similar to that of the 'castin 66 shown in Fig. 30, would be ir vents 67 are lormed'in the top surface of the body of the die to'be situated directly u'nderthe under surface of the lids 62 and 63 to connect with the air vents 62 formed in the under surfacesfof said lids of said die and the same are provided for the purpose of permitting the escape of air from the die to reduce the resistance to the flow of the metal thereinto to facilitate the flow particularly of that metal or composition of metals which can only be heated to a semifluid state by reason of the volatile nature oi some of the metals in the mixture when raised above a certain temperature, and to avoid an air bubble formation in the castings. The hinge lugs 68 and 69 are formed integral on the outer edges of the lids 62 and 63 and the said hinge lugs are provided with cone formed bearings at their hinge cen ,rs,

which bearings are adapted to be engaged by the pointed conical ends of the hinge screws 70. Adjustable hinge clamps 71 areadjust ably secured .to the ends of the lugs 72 formed integral on the cooling block 61, by

the securing screws 73 which letter are screwed into the tapped ends of said lugs 72 to secure the said clamps 71 against the ends of the lugs 72. The lugs 7 4 are also formed integral on the cooling block 61 and the clamping bolts 7 5 are secured in their tapped bores, and said bolts are situated so as to clamp the four corners of the base of the die 60 to properly adjust and secure said die in position on the cooling block 61 under the face of the seat 31 to cause the ate opening 7'6, situated in the joint formed y the abut-' ting edges of the die covers 62 and 63, to all i e v directly under the valve outlet opening 29 of the charging cvlinder 14.

The cooling block 61 upon the truly planed top surface of which the correspondingly trued under surface of the die 60 rests, is provided with water chambers 61 at the bases of which are the ways 61 Which connect the chambers 61 to the Water feed chamber 77 The cooling wateris conveyed from some convenient source of supply and fed into the water chamber 77 by a supply pipe 7 7 and the said cooling water after. circulating through the chambers 61", is discharged through a suitable outlet pipe 77 The lower or base section 77 is provided with a slide way 78 which is adapted to fit onthe su porting guide 79 and to slide longitudina ly thereon so that the said coolingblocl:

'and the die resting and secured thereon may.

be readily moved from under the seat 31 of the charging cylinder 14 to permit the lids 62 and 63 of the die 60 to be freely'opened to remove the casting contained in said diev The cooling block 61 is provided with the lugs 80 to which the die lid opening handle 81 is hinged. The handle 81 is provided with the inner and outer lever bars 82 and 83 and these bars are arranged to be interchange able, that is to say, the shorter bars 83 may be replaced by the inner bars 82 and the shorter bars 83 made to take up the space occupied by the longer bars when in their inner positions, so that the full width of the handle combination may be maintained. This arrangement of the handle bars 83 and 82 is provided for thepurpose of setting the some! p I longer bars 82 so as to be situated sutliciently far beyond the outer ends of the various dies which may diil'er in dimensions orsizes; to fall directly under the lid projections or projecting rollers 84 \Vll(-l(l), the lids 62 and 63 of the die are elevated to partially open the lids of the dic.. The bars 82 are of a sufficient length to extend under the said lifting rollers 84 so that when the handleSl is depressed or moved downwardly said bars 82.

are elevated at their ends which are situated under said lifting rollers S4 and therefore 0 wrote to elevate the lids-62 and 63 of the die. The handle bars will not cpmpIetely open the dielid 63 to permit the removal of a basting -therefrom, but will, when de )ressed a certain extent, recede from said rollers 84 of the rear die lid 63 and said lid 63 would consequently drop when released from said i bars and close were no other means provided to avoid this trouble. To accomplish this we provide an auxiliary opening means which consists in the extending of the hinge lug 69 of the rear lid 63 of the die, as shown in Figs. 14 and 18, and the end of the extended portion of said hinge lug is provided with a bore 85 whereby the looped or bent end of the connecting rod 86 is connected to a suitable connecting pin. The opposite straight end of said connecting rod 86 is provided with an elongated bore 87 through which a cap screw 88 extends which latter is screwed into the bar 82, as shown in Fig. 19. The elongated bore 87 permits the handle 81 to be depressed sutliciently to slightly raise the .lid lifting rollers 84 to assist the connecting rod 86 to open said rear lid 63 of the die, in other words, the bars 82 operate to open said lid at the beginning of its movement and when such initial movement has been completed, the connecting rod 86 performs the remainder of the operation by cooperating with the hinge lug 69 whereby said lid 63 is raised sufficiently to remove acastingfrom the die. The distance ieces 88 and 89 maintain the bars 82 and 83 in parallel relation and at their proper distance apart and said bars are securely clam Jed together by their connecting bolts 90. The ars 82 and 83 are hingedly connected to their lugs 80 formed integral on the forward top portion of the cooling block 60. The recesses 91 are formed in the cooling block 61 to receive the discharging bars 92 which bars are of a width suflicient to closely fit in said recesses, and said bars are adapted to be raised or lowered in said. recesses for the purpose hereinafter described. On the ends of said discharging bars 92 are formed the inclined end portions 93 which are adapted to fit in the inclined slots 94 formed in the sliding bars 95.

The sliding bars 95 are titted in their guide ways 96 formed int-he o iposin sides of the cooling block 61, and the sair sliding bars are so situated that the inclined slots 94 of one bar will be directly opposite and in alinement with the other oppositcbar, so that when the opposing sliding bars 95 are moved simultaneously and longitudinally in the same direction and equal distances in their guide ways 96 the said discharging bars 92 will be moved upwardl or downwardly according to the direction the said sliding bars are moved, forwardly or backwardly, and said discharging bars 92 will be maintained in horizontal position at all points of their paths.

The vertically extending casting ejecting pins .17, are provided with supporting feet 118 which are adjustably secured on the top sides of the discharging bars 92 by suitable screws which latter extend through the slot 99 of said supporting icctto be screwed into the tapped bores formed in said discharging bars to maintain said casting ejecting pins 97 in vertical position to freely enter the ejecting pin holes 100 of the die (it) and to be adjusted to suit thr dill'ercntlysituated ejecting in holes of the dill'ercnt forms of dies user in connection with this machine. Side connecting rods 1o} extend from the pivotal pins J0 of the handle bars 83 to the pivotal pins 103 secured on the outer and sides of the sliding bars 95, so that, when the handle 81 is depressed, the connecting rods 101 operate to transverse the said sliding bars 95 to slide bacluvardly simultaneously to elevate. both ends of the discharging bars '92 to cause the casting ejecting pins 07 to ascend into the bores 100 simultaneously to eject the castings from the die. I

On the bottom cover of the charging cylinder Hare the arms 104 on the ends of which are formed the bosses 105 which bosses are bored and tapped to receive the screw ends of the depending rods 106 which latter re securely screwed therein. The yoke 107 is provided with the end bores 107 which are adapted to receive the lower ends of the depending rods 106 wl'iereto said yoke is secured by suitable screw nuts 108. The center portion of the yoke 107 is provided with'the larger boss 109 which is bored to receive the reduced neck portion 110 of the lower cam member 111 to form a bearing therefor. A collar 112 is also formed on the cam member 111 and the lever arm 113, terminating in a suitable handle or hand grip 114, is formed integral on said cam member and provided for the. purpose of rotating the lower cam member 111. Thecam 111 ccoperates with the cam 115 to elevate the screw 116 and the parts supported by it to press the top surface of the lids oi" a die against the seat 31 or to release the same therefrom without revolving said screw 116 which is used only for the purpose of adj usting the position of the cooling block, 61 tosuit the various sizes}? dies used in connection with this apparatus. The upper adj listing cam 115 is threaded to be screwed upon the adjusting screw 116 and said upper cam mem her 115 is provided with the arms 117 which extend outwardly on directl opposite sides of said cam member and sai arms are bored to loosely receive the depending rods 106 to slide thereon and thereby prevent a rotation of the top cam member 115 at such times as when the adjusting screw 116 is revolved. The top end of the adjusting screw 116 is provided with a. loosely fitting collar 118 in the bore of which the reduced. bearing end of said screw may revolve, and said collar has its top end surface fitted to the underside of the supporting guide 7 9 situated under the center of the outlet 29 of the valve 30 of the charging cylinder 14 to not only support the cooling block 61 and its base 77,

, but also to support the die 60 which rests thereon. The adjusting screw 1.16 is provided to adjust the top surface of the die lids 62 and 63 to a position sufliciently close to and under said seat 31, so as to be within the scope of the cooperating cams 111 and 115- which are employed solely for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

;1n outer guide support is composed of the screw 119, the bearing collar 120 pivoted on the top end of said screw and adapted to contact the under side of the suppo rting guide 79, and the base portion 121 into which said screw 119 is screwed, so that the end of said guide 79 may be adjusted to be in a horizontal position by a proper movement of the screw 119.

In order to more fully comprehend the construction, operation and use of this a paratus we will now proceed to describe t 1e manner of producing (lie castings by our invention of a die casting machine.

The alloy or the diilerent metals selected and intended to enter into the composition of the metallic mixture are placed into the crucible 1, a fire having first been made in the fire box 2 t0 heat the crucible. When it is desired to hasten the melting of the metals contained in the crucible 1 immediately after the latter has been charged the dam er 19 is dropped till it contacts with the wa ls 13 to close the way or opening 17 and fully open the way 18 and the damper 20' is also opened which permits a direct draft to flow from the fire box 2' through the opening 18 to and through the flue way 6 into the chimney 20 thereby shielding the charging cylinder '14 from excessive heat during the time the metal or metals contained in the crucible 1 are heated to reduce them to the fluid state. The combustion in the fire-box 2 is increased to the desired intensity at the will of the operator by judicial manipulation of the dampers 12 to admit air through the air inlet openings 9 into the air space-situated between the outer casing Send the perforated fire-box lining 7, wherein said airis heated thoroughly before passing through the perforations rormed in the firebox lining 7 mto the fire-box to support the combustion of the fuel contained therein Without reducing the temperature thereof.

Immediately the metal contained in the crucible 1 begins to liquefy or reach the semiliquid state the damper 19 is moved into the position shown indotted lines, in Fig. 1, to

close the way, 18 and fully open the way 17 to cause the current of hot gases to impinge against the lower portion of the charging cylinder 14 to heat the latter sufliciently to be prepared to receive the said metal as it is supplied from the crucible 1 without reducing the temperature of the metal or 111 any ds-- gree chilling said metal to change its quality.

It is absolutely necessary that the damper-19 j and the dampers 12, 20 and 21 be properly adjusted to control. the combustion in .iahe

furnace to regulate the temperature of the metal contained not only in the crucible 1 to avoid overheating the contents thereof, but also to maintain the charging cylinder 14 at a proper temperature or at a tem erature sufficient to barely keep the meta charge contained therein in the fluid state or to maintain the metal in a semi-fiuid state:

which conditions depend on the nature of the metal used and on the varying conditions of molding by the method of forcing the metal into a die or form by pressure when iin a semi-fluid or plastic state to compress it therein to fully fill the mold to that exjtent to cause the density or specific gravity got the casting to exceed that of the metal {contained in the crucible from which it was cast, thereby increasing the durability of the casting produced by the method described by which the metal in the die is compressed by'105 means of iluidpressure which castings are utilized. particularly in the production of shaft journal bearings and small finished castings that are required to be duplicated and produced in large quantities, so as to be cheap and ossess the quality and appearance of machined work. The metals or components of the alloy contained in the crucible 1 being now reduced to a sufiicientlv liquid state to How and be thoroughly mixed, is ready to be used for the castings to be made and the operator next places a die, as the die 60, in position on the cooling block 61 whereon it is properly adjusted and secured;

The cooling-block '61'is maintained at a I method of inolding The propel tempera ture at which to operate the die is better arrived at by making a trial casting, which, if the temperature of the die is correct, will be smooth and regular on its surface and free from llaws, and should defects continue to appear as the castings are made, all that is required to be done, is to gradually increase the temperature of the die till the castings produced are apparently without llaw. The temperature of t 1e die 60 is readily increased by reducing the supply of the cooling water to the cooling-block 61 and of course the temperature of said (lie is reduced by increasing the supply of the cooling water to said cooling-block 6] which may be regulated by the operator. The operator neXt moves said cooling-block 61 on its guides 79 to move the die 60 into position under the seat 31 and till I first opens the exhaust port 59 of the three the gate opening 76- of said die issituated directly under the outlet opening 29 formed in the bottom cover 28 of the charging cylinder 14. The cam ill is next revolved by means of the cam operating lever arm 113 to move the guide 7 9 situated under the cooling-block 6] totightly press the top surfaces of the die lids 62 and 63 against the under surface of the seat 31 to form. a close joint therewith to prevent the escape of the liquid metal between the contacting surfaces of" said die lids and seat especially when the metal flowing from the charging cylinder 14 into the die is subjected to a high pressure to compress it into said die.-

The die 60 is now in position and ready to receive its charge of metal whichoperation is accomplished by first raising the inlet valve 34 gradually by means of the operating lever 53 to permit the metal to flow from the crucible 1 through the spent 22 to and through the valve opening 33 of the spout 32 into the charging cylinder 14, as shown in diagram view Fig. 25, and said plug vah'e 34 is held in open position till at least si-sufli- ,eient quantity of molten metal needed for a charge for a die is admitted into the charging cylinder 14. v

The movement of the handle 53 to the position shown in the diagram view Fig. 25,

way valve and maintains it open While in that position, to permit the air confined in the charging cylinder 14 to be ex elled therefrom, next the fluid metal is a( mitted into said cylinder, thereby removing all resistance to the lnward flow of the molten metal and permitting a more rapid flow of said metal into saidcharging cylinder. The lever 53 is next moved upwardly into the position shown in. the diagram view, Fig. 26 to almost close the exhaust or vent port 59 at the same time lowering the plug valve S i on'its valve opening to prevent a further supply of metal entering said charging cylinder 14. At about this time the metal in the charging cylinder should be agitated to prevent the weightier elements or elementary metals of which the alloy is composed and be kept in constant agitation to prevent a precipitation or 'strati fication of said elementary metals; for this purpose the plunger '35 is reciprocated through the molten metal by means of the plunger lever 45 which is connected to the stem 43, as previously described. The lever 53 is next moved upwardly into the position shown in the diagram view Fig. 27, to slightly open the admission port 57 of the three-Mi valve to at first gradually admit the fluid un der ressure into the charging cylinder 14 to gra ually raise the pressure of said fluid in i den falling of the fluid pressure in said charging cylinder when its metal outlet valve openipg 29 is suddenly opened to permit the quick ischarge of the metal charge from saideharging cylinder, during this time the plug valves 30 and 34 are each closed to prevent the fluid metal from flowing either into the die or being forced back into the crucible. The lever 53 is.next moved upwardly into the position shown in the diagram view Fig. 29, to fully open the admission port 57, the exhaust port 59 being still closed, of the three-way-valve to permit a free flow of the fluid under ressure into said charging cylinder 14 wit iout loss of pressure and at the same time to raise the'plug valve 30 to fully open the outlet valve opening 29 to permit the molten metal or'the metal in the fluid or semi-fluid state to be forced by the ressure of the fluid under pressure, out 0 said charging cylinder 14 into the die 60 to com letely fill it and compress the molten metal therein, thereby eXpe ling all air bubbles from the casting and completely filling any void thatmight exist .and which would existand lainly appear in the casting were not a 'su cient fluid pres-- sure employed to force the metal into the die.

.lmmediately the die has been fullyehar'ged with the metal the lever 53 is first returned into the position shown in the diagram View Fig. 26, to closethevalves 30 and 34 and to fully 0 en the exhaust port 5.) of the threewhich when done, the said chargingncylihder is a sin prepared to receive another charge of t -e molten metal. turned by means of the hand lever arm 113 to lower that portion of the guide 7 9 situated directl. under the charging cylinder 14 to release-t e die from pressure to withdraw the latter and the cooling block 61 upon which it rests from under theseat 31 of the bottom cover'ot' the charging cylinder by sliding said cooling block outwardly on its guide 79 so that the lids 62 and 63'of the said die 60 are cleared to be opened their full extent to removethe casting from said die.

The lids'62 and 63 of the die may be raised open a small extent at the beginningby th handle s1 and then fully 0 ened by all means' hereinbefore described after which thecasting is removed from the die 60. die 60 is now closed and return ed to its former osition along with its cooling block upon w ich said die rests, till the gate opening 7 6 of said die is situated directly under the outlet opening 29 of said charging cylinder 14. The lever 113 is next operated as before described to rapidly move said die into position a ainst said seat 31 to tightly clamp and firm y press the top'surfaces of the lids 62 and 63 of said die to said seat, and the operation of casting may be continued in definitely.

' It is frequently necessary to agitate the molten metalcontained in the crucible 1 to prevent a stratification of the diflerent elementary metals which enter into the composition of thegalloy. To accomplish this purpose all that is required to be done is to admit a back pressure of the fluid under pressure from the charging cylinder 14 into said crucible 1, which is readily done by first moving the three-way valve into the position shown in the diagram view Fig. 27 to slightly open the admission port to admit the fluid under pressure into said char ing cylinder 14. The operator then raises t ie stem 38 by applying a pry under the block 55 of said stem'to raise said plug valve 34 to permit the flow of the fluid under pressure through the valve opening 33 into and through the spout 22 into the crucible 1 at the bottom portion thereof and under the molten metal contained therein which thoroughly agitatcs the latter.

' It is sometimes desirable to return a charge of molten metal from said char ing cylinder 14 toand into the crucible 1; t is is readily accomplished by moving said three way valve into the position shown in Fig. 27, and raising the plug valve 24; as previously described to permit the chilled metal to be returned into said crucible to be reheated.

We claim 1. In a die casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a chargin cylinder, means connecting said charging cylinder and The earn 111' i'S-DOW The said crucible, and a die situated under and contacting said charging cylinder, of a fluid inder for controlling the supply and the discharge of the molten metal into' and out of said charging cylinder, a fluid pressure supplying means connected to said charging cylcharging cylinder common to said fluid pressure sup lying means and said charging cylinder va ves whereby the fluid pressure sup- 111(191 and means situated exteriorly 01' said plying means and the charging cylinder.

valves are operated alternately to first admit the moltcnmetal, then'the fluid under pressure, then discharge the molten metal and finally exhaust the fluid pressure.

3. In a die casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder having a bottom metal discharging opening, a spout connecting said crucible and said charging cylinder having its outlet end pro jecting interior] y of said charging cylinder, a removable die situated under said charging. cylinder openin a die support, and means for clamping said die to the bottom of'said charging cylinder, of a fluid pressure supplymg means, a fluid pressure controlling means,

a metal charging valve on the outlet end of said spout, a metal discharging valve over the bottom opening of said charging cylinder, and means common to said fluid pressure controlling means and said molten metal charging and whereby the molten metal is first admitted into said charging cylinder, next the fluid pressure, then the molten metal is discharged therefrom, and linally, the fluid pressure is exhausted.

4. In a die casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder having an outlet opening at its base, a die situated under said base opening, and a die discharging valves clamping means, of gravity closing valves situated within said charging cylinder, a fluid pressure supplying means connected to th'e lattei, a three-way valve connected to said fluid pressure sup lying means and situated e-Xteriorly of sai( charging cylinder,

a lever connected to said three-way valve,

and means on said lever cooperating with said three-Way valve and said gravity valves to operate each alternately. Y

5. In a die casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder,

a die, and an agitating means situated within said charging cyhnder for agitating the molten meta containedtherein, of an inlet and an outlet valve situated within said char ing cylinder for controlling the flow of the mo ten metal thereinto and therefrom, a fluid ressure supply eontrolling means situate exteriorly of saldcharg'ing cylinder, a controlling lever common to said fluid pressure supply-controlling means and said chargingcylinder valves.

- charging cylin 6. In a die casting, apparatus the corn-- .bination with a crucible,

a charging cylinder; and means connecting said charging cylinder and said crucible, of a vertically reciprocating agitating disklunger situated within said er, and means for vertically i reciprocat ng said plunger;

mg agitator disk plunger situated 7. In a die. casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder and means connecting said crucible and said charging cylinder, of a vertically reciprocatwithin said charging cylinder having its under surface dished and its upper surface spherical in form, said disk provided with a series of radially extending 0 enings, and means situated externally of tne said chargin cylinder for verticallg reciprocating said p unger.

S. n a die casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder and aspout cmuiecting said crucible and said charging cylinder, of an agitator disk plun er In said charging cylinder having its no er surface dished and its upper surface spherical in form said plunger provided with a series of radially extending openings, an upwardl extending stem projecting through said cy inder and an operating lever connected to said stem and situated exteriorly of said cylinder.

9. In a die casting apparatus, the combination with a furnace comprising a fire-box an air heating chamber situated to surround and inclose said fire-box and provided with air inlet openin s, damper doors over said openings, a com ustion chamber, a wall extending transversely of said combustion.

cylinder in said rear chamber to divide the same into forward and rear compartments and provided with a damper opening, a flue way situated over said forward compartment, and a damper door situated to close either said damper opening or said'flue way, of a crucible extending downwardly through said flue way into said forward compartment, a charging compartment, a spout connecting said crucible and said charging c linder, and suitable dampers for controlling t e temperature of each of said compartments.

.10. In a die castin apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder, a spout connecting said crucible and said charging cylinder, and a removable die situatedunderthe latter cylinder, of a supporting guide situated horizontally under said charging cylinder, a cooling block mounted on said guide and upon which said die rests, means whereby said guide is quickly elevated to clam said die against said charging cylinder, an means for lowering said guide to release said die so that said block and the die resting thereupon may he slid outwardly upon said guide to open the die.

11. In adie casting apparatus, the combination with a crucible, a charging cylinder, a spout connecting said crucible and said charging cylinder, and a removable die situated under the latter cylinder, of a supporting guide, a cooling block situated under said die and slidably mounted on said sup iorting guide, an adjusting screw situated under said supporting guide and means whereby said screw is quickly lowered to release or elevated to engage said supporting guide to either release said charging cylinder or to clamp it thereto.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT G. RAUl-l LAW RENCE OLSEN. 

